Jellystone Park Gardiner and Thousand Trails Rondout Valley offer pet-friendly accommodations including tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and glamping options near Cragsmoor. Both campgrounds provide essential amenities for campers with dogs including picnic tables, fire rings, and trash disposal. Winding Hills Park permits pets at its tent and RV sites with 30-amp hookups available, while Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground welcomes pets at its tent-only sites. Boulder Point Campground allows pets at all accommodation types including cabins. Campers should be aware of potential aggressive dog encounters, as one serious dog bite incident occurred at Jellystone Park involving an unleashed pit bull that attacked another camper's leashed dog.
The Kenneth L Wilson Campground features a fenced dog park that receives consistently positive reviews from pet owners. Hiking trails within the campground provide approximately 4 miles of pet-friendly walking paths circling two nearby ponds. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to remain leashed at all times when outside vehicles or camping units. North-South Lake Campground offers pet-friendly sites with nearby hiking opportunities, though campers should be aware that black bears occasionally visit the campground. Woodland Valley Campground provides electric hookups and allows pets, making it suitable for RV campers traveling with dogs. The campgrounds near Cragsmoor serve as good base camps for exploring the surrounding Catskill Mountains with pets, where numerous dog-friendly hiking trails can be found.
"We got a red carpet site by the Gaga pit and near the water park (Cindy bear lane) and it was a convenient yet noisy site. Kids were at the playground 8 am or before and the noise woke us up."
"With a new check in area, Gardiner has really stepped up. They expanded the pool area to include another pool plus splash area and water slides."
"Great place situated in a great area with lots to do all within an hour's drive. Even camping during a pandemic was peaceful & fun!"
"This is a Thousand trails campground so it was free. I think the regular price is $64. Full hookups, tents and cabins to rent. Pleanty to do in and around campground."
"Small dog park, communal spaces, and a camp store all made the place feel like a little village. They even have a wine store- cab sav was good. WiFi I work remotely and WiFi is always an issue."
"The staff was nice and they were dog friendly!"
$25 - $30 / night
"We have stayed here multiple times since it’s so close to home. Reservations are needed only for major holidays during camping season; Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day."
"The trails to walk on are perfect to get out of the campsite for a few hours. There are no spots with sewer hookup but they have a dumping area."
"Our RV site was private, surround by trees with a nice fire pit and picnic table."
"There are no bathrooms in the cabin but there are public restrooms nearby. The resorts is decked out with 2 playgrounds, a splash park, kiddie pool, family pool and hot tub."
"I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in (meaning you can't drive to them) sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed"
"There are drive-up sites and also walk-in sites. No fire pits at individual campsites, though. Only a group fire pit."
$78 - $400 / night
"This property has several sites for you to setup your tent, camper, van, or RV (only small tow behinds or popups, no large RVs) Nearby are wineries to explore. Nice bathrooms and showers!"
$25 - $100 / night
"Best views around and close to the horses! Second night we got a special site with an amazing fire-pit. Last night was cool amongst the pine trees, a fire pit and epic views. "
"But the location is great for accessing the Shawamhunks. Given the lack of affordable RV campgrounds (and even the few expensive ones) in the area, this stands out."
$20 / night
"This campground had easy access to excellent hiking trails. Woodstock, NY was about 30 min away and we enjoyed exploring the area on our non-hiking day. Very dog friendly."
"water to play in right behind tent. I do prefer fire pits over the brick stove. this had the stove. more advanced hiking in walking distance. no cell service. my gps on phone was able to track though."
ScoutThe campsite was great. Big and going after Labor Day means there was tons of space. Well priced. We did have neighbors that had a trailer and used their generator early in the morning and late at night. Beside that it was fantastic. We had planned on driving to hiking but there was so much to do around the camp site we just walked around and did the hiking near by. The dog park is wonderful. Our dog loved it.
GuideLots of room in many sites for my 24 ft RV and 30 ft trailer. Big meadow in middle with new full playground set.
Dry camping but water available and a sewer dump. Gotta haul your own trash.
Two ponds to play in and a fenced dog park.
Some nice hiking in the park.
GuideSuch a clean and well maintained campground. Staff were so nice and friendly. Only one shower area that was a bit of a trek from our site, a bike would have been nice to get around. We had to move our tent as we had set it back too far and was not on the site pad and park ranger Brian who was very lovely came and asked us to move it and we had a nice chat. Lovely big dog park. There are some nice little walks and small hikes on the ground with a lake that you can rent kayaks or canoes. Close to Woodstock which is a cute town. Our site was a little exposed but the sites either side of us were closed for restoration thankfully. There are some more secluded and set back sites too though.
ScoutRecently, we camped here for a week. We don’t ever post negative reviews like this. The last day, we experienced a violent attack by a very large and aggressive Pit Bull. The Pit Bull did not have a collar or a leash and was accidently let out of the RV to roam free and unsupervised. It immediately ran to our site(4 sites away) and attacked our dog that was tied at the time. The incident was unprovoked. While trying to save our dog, my wife and I were also attacked. The wounds were serious enough to require emergency transport to a hospital for treatment including stitches. All we could think of was what might have happened if our granddaughter had been playing with our dog.
To put it mildly, their existing pet policy is grossly lacking. They never checked what breed of dog or ask to see documentation of shots when we were registering. Yogi Bear Jellystone Park needs to better manage their pet policy to address aggressive dog breeds and ensure the safety of campers. We camped there for seven days and saw multiple sites have more than one large dog, which in many places we’ve camped at would have been banned due to breed type or size. We have RV’ed extensively across the US and have never seen such careless enforcement of a pet policy regarding aggressive dog breeds. Seriously, think about avoiding this park if you have pets or small children.
TravelerGood for skinny dipping and other fun things! Most acidic lake in New York but completely safe.
LegendWe were on a 5 state East Coast camping trip. Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home. Thursday & Friday it was Neverending rain & wind. Saturday was the nice day.
North South Lake has no electricity. The sites are almost all beautiful, tucked in under shady trees. Not a good way to try out our solar panel! Some are by a stream. A few are by the lake. This is a tent campers paradise. New York tent campers are hard core camping during Tropical Storm Debbie!
There are 7 loops. We were in loop 2. Site 85. There are some sites with an incline down to the site. That might give some rvs trouble. It did for us & I had to be driven out of the campground to call 911. Thank you Mary!! It all ended well & we got a different site.
There are bears that visit the campground & one came one of the nights & visited our camping neighbor's site. They showed us a picture- it was a large black bear.
Generators are allowed for 5 hours & they tell you when you can use them.
The bathrooms/showers are state park clean- which means not very.
There is NO cell service & just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged.
This is a hiking park & for this middle aged overweight flatlander they are pretty strenuous. Kaaterskill Falls is an exception - short, easy trail, but the parking fills up quickly. Then they close it! You'll have to take a shuttle to get in.
The trail to the Mountain House Site is also pretty easy, with more of an incline.
There's 2 nice lakes with beaches.
The Catskills are very scenic& we enjoyed our time there!
GuideThis campground is nestled in the Catskills, New York, with easy access to New Jersey and Connecticut. With large campsites and most surrounded by trees, you will find just the right mix of privacy and community depending upon what you are looking for. Although the showers aren't top notch, they do have them and a great recycling center for all of your garbage. If hiking is what you enjoy, they have nearly 4 miles of trails within the campground and surrounding areas that circle two nearby ponds and their day use area. If you are looking for something offsite, don't miss the Giant Ledge hike, a 30 min drive and about a 3 mile out and back hike to Giant Ledge for amazing views overlooking the entire area. Head out to watch the sunrise one morning with awesome views looking east. When you need a break from cooking, don't miss the nearby Phoenicia Diner for some great breakfast and coffee! All of the Park Rangers are very helpful and will provide recommendations and maps, just ask!
TravelerNorth South lake is one of the larger public camp grounds in New York. The sites are well spaced out. Great for families. The lake is huge.
Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds.
TravelerSome things you should be aware of before booking: The office, playground, dog park, pool, laundry are located at the top of the hill. Camping spots are downhill, a good distance from the office and amenities. Trash is located off site in a pullout on the road you drive in on. There are 2 showers for women and 2 for men. Both are old and not well maintained or in our experience clean, either. In general the camping spots are not well maintained, weedy, un-level and picnic tables are weathered and warped. This resort campground is composed of mainly residents, the rules (we observed) apply to the overnight campers, not the residents. Children of the residents run free all day and past curfew in the evenings unsupervised. The setting is quiet, the views from the upper level are lovely. With some updating of bath facilities, cleaning and leveling of campsites, uniform enforcement of rules, Pleasant Acres could become a resort destination.
Campgrounds near Cragsmoor offer varied terrain from mountainous sites at higher elevations to valley locations with creek access. Most campgrounds remain open from May through October, with some extending their season into early November. Several campgrounds require advance reservations during summer weekends, while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis, particularly during weekdays.
Hiking access from campsites: Woodland Valley Campground serves as a prime starting point for Catskills hiking. "Large campsite, clean facilities, fire pit, friendly and knowledgeable staff. This is an excellent site if you're looking to explore the Slide Mountain Wilderness and a great place to prep if you're planning to go backpacking as well," notes Derek W. Trail access directly from the campground leads to several popular Catskill peaks.
Swimming spots: Creekside camping at several locations provides natural swimming opportunities. "The mountain creek is like nature singing a lullaby - sleeping next to it was very relaxing," shares John N. about Woodland Valley. The gentle flow makes these spots suitable for wading rather than deep swimming.
Local farm exploration: Gunx Camping on a Horse Farm combines camping with agricultural experiences. "Farm stand on property. Supermarkets and restaurants and farm breweries within 5 minutes," explains Wally N. Visitors can observe farm operations and purchase fresh produce during their stay.
Rock climbing access: Camping near the Shawangunk Ridge provides access to world-class climbing routes. "Located really close to the Gunks for climbing and also some great hikes around the area," mentions Jackie B. Most climbing areas require day passes ranging from $15-25 per person.
Private wooded sites: Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground offers secluded tent platforms. "I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed like the star sites," recommends Kelsey R. These walk-in sites require a short 3-5 minute hike from the parking area.
Community campfires: Some campgrounds feature communal fire areas rather than individual fire rings. "The campgrounds have eliminated fire rings at each site and opted for one, communal fire pit to encourage more social interaction," explains Cory D. This setup facilitates meeting fellow campers, particularly useful for solo travelers.
Well-maintained restrooms: Winding Hills Park receives consistently positive feedback for its facilities. "The bathrooms are kept very clean as well. The trails to walk on are perfect to get out of the campsite for a few hours," says Valen K. Free hot showers are available at most developed campgrounds in the area.
Quiet weekday camping: Many campgrounds experience significantly lower occupancy Monday through Thursday. "When not going on a holiday it is first come first serve spots which is good if you just need to spend one night here," explains Amanda B. about Winding Hills Park. This provides a more secluded experience for those with flexible schedules.
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies dramatically throughout the area. "No mobile signal, but that's the point, isn't it? You get to disconnect from it all for a while," notes John N. about Woodland Valley Campground. Verizon generally provides the most reliable coverage, while Sprint/T-Mobile customers report minimal service at most campgrounds.
Wildlife considerations: Bear activity requires proper food storage. "With all the heavy bear traffic signs that were up, I was surprised to see how close bear boxes were to our tents. They seemed to be 1-10 feet away from tents in each campsite," observes Kelsey R. about Shawangunk Gateway Campground. Rangers regularly check for compliance with food storage requirements.
Campground differences: Thousand Trails Rondout Valley represents the contrast between rustic and developed options. "This is what I want for a Catskill campground. It is not a concrete pad haven and yes, there is mud," explains Ian R. The campground balances natural elements with comfort amenities.
Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds operate strictly on reservations while others combine systems. "For non-residents the non-electric sites are $40 and the power sites are $45. Residents are $10 less. Cash only!" reports Laura M. about Winding Hills Park, which primarily operates first-come, first-served except during holidays.
Kid-friendly activities: NYC North-Newburgh KOA designs programming specifically for children. "I love this campground they have counselors who lead activities with kids in the summer and two pools plus a rock climbing tower, manifold, basketball and a bounce pillow and more," shares Amanda S. Activities typically run from 10am-4pm during summer weekends.
Playgrounds and pools: Several campgrounds feature dedicated recreational facilities. "Our family enjoyed it! My kids are between the ages of 14 - 4. They all had smiles on their faces. There's a fun splash park with water slides and 2 pools," reports Aimee A. about Jellystone Park at Birchwood Acres. Most water facilities operate seasonally from mid-June through Labor Day weekend.
Halloween camping events: October camping includes special programming at select locations. "We visited mid October and folks had sites decorated and the KOA has trick or treating and other activities every weekend in Oct," describes Chelsea B. These themed weekends typically include decorating contests, costume parades, and organized trick-or-treating throughout the campgrounds.
Noise considerations: Family campgrounds can get lively during peak periods. "Originally I thought it was the gloom of the weather that made this place seem pretty plain and run down. But now that its a beautiful day, the grounds are about the same," notes Sammii D. about Rondout Valley, highlighting how expectations should align with each campground's character.
Site sizing: Many campgrounds have limited spaces for larger rigs. "Great campsites, wooded and cozy, though a little tight for longer rigs as our neighbors found out when they ran over a wooden post backing in," warns Chelsea B. about NYC North-Newburgh KOA. Most campgrounds max out at accommodating 30-35 foot trailers and motorhomes.
Hook-up availability: Boulder Point Campground accommodates smaller RVs but with limitations. "This property has several sites for you to setup your tent, camper, van, or RV (only small tow behinds or popups, no large RVs)," explains Ashley F. Most dog friendly campgrounds near Cragsmoor offer at least some electric sites, though full hookups are less common.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds with RV sites provide on-site dumping. "Dump stations if need and a service to come to your rig to collect waste if you don't want to move it," reports Robert M. about Rondout Valley, highlighting an unusual service not typically found at other area campgrounds.
WiFi considerations: Internet access varies significantly between campgrounds. "I work remotely and WiFi is always an issue. We have Starlink but in a wooded campsite, connecting is an issue but luckily their WiFi was great," shares Chelsea B. about NYC North-Newburgh KOA. Most pet-friendly camping options near Cragsmoor offer at least basic WiFi at central facilities, though rarely at individual sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Cragsmoor, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Cragsmoor, NY is Jellystone Park™ Gardiner with a 4.3-star rating from 32 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 153 dog-friendly camping locations near Cragsmoor, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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